afi6               CHARLES STEWART PARNELL             [1886
/Parnell looked around, and his quick eye soon picked
ime out.  He walked across to my table, and said, " May
;I dine with you, Corbet?"     "My dear Parnell," I
.-replied, " I am only delighted to have you with me."
;He looked worried, ill, broken  down.    "Parnell," I
said,  "is there anything wrong?   You look upset."
•"No," he replied,   "I  am not very well just now,
and things unnerve me.   I  shall be  all  right when
I have had some dinner."    I said, "Parnell, will you
let an old friend and neighbour take a  liberty with
you?"    "Certainly,  Corbet,"   he   answered;" what
is it?"
'"You are not well," I said; "you look tired and
• worn out.    For heaven's sake, fling up everything and go away.    The Government cannot do us much harm
"if you go away for a few months ; do take a complete rest. Suppose you break down altogether, what will •happen then?" " Oh, I won't break down," he said,
• quickly pulling himself together; "I'll be all right soon." "But," I urged, "why not go away even for two months?
*Two months' complete rest, free from all anxiety, would set you up at once." "I cannot go away," he said wearily. "I am not afraid of the Government; they •can't do us much harm for a few months, as you say,
• and I am not going to fight them just at present.  I am thinking of our own party.  I cannot leave them. I must
• -keep my eye on them and hold them together. But" ' (brightening up) " I mean to rest, Corbet, I mean to -take it easy for a bit. But I cannot go away." After-•wards I heard that he had had an unpleasant meeting— that the men were all at sixes and sevens, and that he Jiad a good deal of trouble in smoothing over difficulties and in making peace. He was always smoothing over <difficulties, making peace, and holding us together:'